Formula 3

Piastri cruises to debut F3 victory after first corner contact

2 Mins read
Credit: PREMA Racing

Australian Oscar Piastri overcame first corner contact to claim his maiden FIA Formula 3 win in what was his first start in the series’ opening race of 2020 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

The 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup champion was involved in contact at turn one when he, Lirim Zendeli and pole sitter Sebastián Fernández tried to go three wide into the first turn. He was in the middle and the latter, who had a poor getaway drove across his nose and the Spaniard’s race was ended on the spot.

Zendeli led out of that incident but it only took Piastri until turn three to make his move round the outside of the German and he never looked back.

Trident driver Zendeli, who shocked many with his front row qualifying, fell further back as both Logan Sargeant and Alex Peroni passed him at the same corner on the same lap as they swooped round him at turn four on lap six. The duo closed slightly into Piastri’s three second lead but couldn’t get close enough to worry the Australian.

Brit Jake Hughes may have been in the fight for the podium or even win but he was forced to pull into the pits after the formation lap with an issue with the left rear of his HWA car. He did get back onto track but could only manage 28th and last of those on the lead lap.

Behind the podium finishers, Zendeli fell a further place as Frederik Vesti found a way past on lap nine but that’s where the falling stopped for the front row man as he pulled clear of the chasing pack to finish in fifth.

The remaining points places saw Liam Lawson climb six places to sixth ahead of David Beckmann, Richard Verschoor, Aleksandr Smolyar and Clément Novalak who starts the second race from reverse grid pole on Sunday morning.

Igor Fraga had issues in qualifying but made up for that by gaining 14 positions and finished in 16th overall from dead last and the grid.

Pos.NameTeamTime/Gap
1Oscar PiastriPREMA32:53:331
2Logan SargeantPREMA+1:671
3Alex PeroniCampos+3.017
4Frederik VestiPREMA+4.002
5Lirim ZendeliTrident+7.496
6Liam LawsonHitech GP+10.818
7David BeckmannTrident+12.862
8Richard VerschoorMP Motorsport+13.800
9Aleksandr SmolyarART+14.194
10Clément NovalakCarlin Buzz Racing+14.558
11Bent ViscaalMP Motorsport+15.477
12Max FewtrellHitech GP+22.398
13Théo PourchaireART+33.921
14Jack DoohanHWA Racelab+25.218
15Dennis HaugerHitech GP+26.634
16Igor FragaCharouz+27.131
17Roman StanekCharouz+27.587
18Enzo FittipaldiHWA Racelab+27.874
19Federico MalvestitiJenzer+29.229
20Olli CaldwellTrident+29.599
21Calan WilliamsJenzer+29.930
22Cameron DasCarlin Buzz Racing+30.365
23Enaam AhmedCarlin Buzz Racing+30.868
24Lukas DunnerMP Motorsport+31.123
25David SchumacherCharouz+35.204
26Sophia FloerschCampos+35.838
27Matteo NanniniJenzer+36.354
28Jake HughesHWA Racelab+37.545
29Alessio DeleddaCampos+1 Lap
DNFSebastián FernándezARTContact
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If it's got an engine, I've watched it race. F2 and F3 correspondent with a sprinkling of speedway here and there.
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